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South Dakota Department
of Agriculture Fall 2013
Newsletter
SDDA Fall Happenings
The SD Wildland Fire Division resources had a busy
summer supporting fire suppression efforts in multiple
states.
The Bear Mountain and Black Hat Hand Crews, Engine
Crews from the Lead, Rapid City, Hot Springs and Custer
State Park Field Offices, and division employees serving as
single resources have accepted these out-of-state assignments.
Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team C was also
assigned out-of-state and continues to be available.
Division firefighters have responded to the following states:
Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, California,
Arizona, New Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Alaska.
Sept. 17, 2:15 p.m. MDT:
Ag Development County Site
Analysis Presentation, Spearfish
Holiday Inn Convention Center
Sept. 28: Women’s Expo, SD State
Fairgrounds, Huron
Oct. 4-6: SD Barrel Racing Finals,
SD State Fairgrounds, Huron
Oct. 6-12: Fire Prevention Week
Nov. 19: Beginning Farmer/
Rancher Symposium, SDSU,
Brookings
South Dakota Wildland Fire Update
Surviving Black Hills Wildfire 101 by David Hettick, Southern Hills Service Forester
East Peak Fire in
Colorado where SD
Firefighters responded.
“I moved here for the trees” and “I want the area to be natural” are two of the most common
responses I hear from landowners new to the area.
Many new landowners think the Black Hills have always been heavily forested with
ponderosa pine. Pictures from the Custer Expedition and other early documentation from
around the turn of the century show a much different world.
Paul Horsted’s comparison photos are a wonderful teaching tool when it comes to comparing
the forest we have become accustom to and consider normal and healthy today with “Mother
Nature’s” plan.
The first thing people notice is the trees, or should I say, the lack of trees in the 1874 photos. Fires, both natural and those set by
Native Americans for improving wildlife habitat, thinned the pines; as did the native mountain pine beetle.
European settlement of the region brought with it fire suppression. Unfortunately, in our zeal to tame nature, we failed to realize we
can only postpone wildfire with suppression. Fire suppression inadvertently created high fuel concentrations allowing fires to
frequently burn with greater intensities today than a century ago.
Topography, weather and fuel had traditionally been the main considerations when it came to wildfire suppression. However, today,
wildfire managers have to add the human component.
Weather and topography cannot be changed, but the amount and type of combustibles we have is the one thing we can modify to
reduce wildfire intensity. Treating ground and ladder fuels, and increasing spacing between trees can help keep a wildfire on the
ground where it is less intense and easier to control.
We want space between the tops and branches of coniferous trees. The steepness of the slope, structures and soils found on the site
help a resource professional determine just how much thinning you need.
Basic fire knowledge can go a long way in helping reduce your risk of devastation during a wildfire event if you are thinking about
building a new home.
The site at the top of the mountain with the best vista is not the safest location with an approaching wildfire. Fire burns more
intensely on steep slopes because rising warm air (convection) carries burning embers and dries out the vegetation in front of the
main fire. Likewise, avoid building sites at the head of narrow, steep drainages that form chimneys. South and west facing slopes are
hotter and drier. Use fire resistant building materials, and have access roads designed to handle larger emergency vehicles.
In my career, the Black Hills area has changed dramatically. I’ve watched the land go from a rural ranch setting to a populated and
developed area. Grazing cows have been replaced by houses, subdivisions and small communities, but wildfire will still be a part of
the Black Hills environment for the foreseeable future.
The unpredictability of weather and fire behavior mean no house or forest can ever be considered completely safe. However, by
understanding some basic fire principles and implementing recommended pre-fire practices, the odds of survivability for property
and the lives of firefighters protecting your property are vastly improved.

South Dakota Department
of Agriculture Fall 2013
Newsletter
SDDA Fall Happenings
The SD Wildland Fire Division resources had a busy
summer supporting fire suppression efforts in multiple
states.
The Bear Mountain and Black Hat Hand Crews, Engine
Crews from the Lead, Rapid City, Hot Springs and Custer
State Park Field Offices, and division employees serving as
single resources have accepted these out-of-state assignments.
Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team C was also
assigned out-of-state and continues to be available.
Division firefighters have responded to the following states:
Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, California,
Arizona, New Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Alaska.
Sept. 17, 2:15 p.m. MDT:
Ag Development County Site
Analysis Presentation, Spearfish
Holiday Inn Convention Center
Sept. 28: Women’s Expo, SD State
Fairgrounds, Huron
Oct. 4-6: SD Barrel Racing Finals,
SD State Fairgrounds, Huron
Oct. 6-12: Fire Prevention Week
Nov. 19: Beginning Farmer/
Rancher Symposium, SDSU,
Brookings
South Dakota Wildland Fire Update
Surviving Black Hills Wildfire 101 by David Hettick, Southern Hills Service Forester
East Peak Fire in
Colorado where SD
Firefighters responded.
“I moved here for the trees” and “I want the area to be natural” are two of the most common
responses I hear from landowners new to the area.
Many new landowners think the Black Hills have always been heavily forested with
ponderosa pine. Pictures from the Custer Expedition and other early documentation from
around the turn of the century show a much different world.
Paul Horsted’s comparison photos are a wonderful teaching tool when it comes to comparing
the forest we have become accustom to and consider normal and healthy today with “Mother
Nature’s” plan.
The first thing people notice is the trees, or should I say, the lack of trees in the 1874 photos. Fires, both natural and those set by
Native Americans for improving wildlife habitat, thinned the pines; as did the native mountain pine beetle.
European settlement of the region brought with it fire suppression. Unfortunately, in our zeal to tame nature, we failed to realize we
can only postpone wildfire with suppression. Fire suppression inadvertently created high fuel concentrations allowing fires to
frequently burn with greater intensities today than a century ago.
Topography, weather and fuel had traditionally been the main considerations when it came to wildfire suppression. However, today,
wildfire managers have to add the human component.
Weather and topography cannot be changed, but the amount and type of combustibles we have is the one thing we can modify to
reduce wildfire intensity. Treating ground and ladder fuels, and increasing spacing between trees can help keep a wildfire on the
ground where it is less intense and easier to control.
We want space between the tops and branches of coniferous trees. The steepness of the slope, structures and soils found on the site
help a resource professional determine just how much thinning you need.
Basic fire knowledge can go a long way in helping reduce your risk of devastation during a wildfire event if you are thinking about
building a new home.
The site at the top of the mountain with the best vista is not the safest location with an approaching wildfire. Fire burns more
intensely on steep slopes because rising warm air (convection) carries burning embers and dries out the vegetation in front of the
main fire. Likewise, avoid building sites at the head of narrow, steep drainages that form chimneys. South and west facing slopes are
hotter and drier. Use fire resistant building materials, and have access roads designed to handle larger emergency vehicles.
In my career, the Black Hills area has changed dramatically. I’ve watched the land go from a rural ranch setting to a populated and
developed area. Grazing cows have been replaced by houses, subdivisions and small communities, but wildfire will still be a part of
the Black Hills environment for the foreseeable future.
The unpredictability of weather and fire behavior mean no house or forest can ever be considered completely safe. However, by
understanding some basic fire principles and implementing recommended pre-fire practices, the odds of survivability for property
and the lives of firefighters protecting your property are vastly improved.

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